Democrats lose a round in state corruption case

HARRISBURG - A judge yesterday delivered a blow to defendants in the government corruption case known as Bonusgate.

Dauphin County Court Judge Richard A. Lewis rejected claims of selective prosecution that were at the heart of the defense for some former Democratic House employees and lawmakers accused of using taxpayer resources to run political campaigns.

Several of the 12 defendants, including former State Rep. Michael Veon (D., Beaver), were seeking to have their cases dismissed through claiming that Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican, singled them out to advance his quest to become governor, but Lewis said their argument failed to meet legal benchmarks.

Lewis said the claim of selective prosecution is meant to protect people from charges based on race, religion, or other constitutionally protected classes. Political affiliation is not a protected class, he said.

Secondly, he said, prosecutors based their charges on the work of two statewide investigating grand juries that issued excruciatingly detailed reports to substantiate the charges.

"We're pleased with the court's decision. It was the right decision based on the evidence," said Kevin Harley, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, which is prosecuting the case.

Defense attorney Joel Sansone, who represents Veon, said he "disagrees wholeheartedly" and was considering an appeal to Superior Court. Harley said politics played no role in prosecutorial decisions.

Corbett has said that prosecutors are continuing to investigate both Republicans and Democrats and that more arrests are likely. The case has been under investigation for two years.

So far, all 12 of those arrested, on charges of theft, corruption and conflict of interest, are affiliated with the House Democratic caucus.

The ruling prevents the defense from calling 46 witnesses - including more than a dozen Republican and Democratic lawmakers - it subpoenaed to testify in a pre-trial hearing to prove selective prosecution.

Lewis also denied motions to suppress evidence and for a change of venue.

Several defendants are cooperating with prosecutors and, although prosecutors will not say how many have struck plea deals, only six of the 12 filed pretrial motions.

Lewis wrote that all six joined in all the motions, but Matt Gover, attorney for codefendant Earl Mosley, who was the caucus' personnel director, said that was incorrect.

"We never joined in the selective-prosecution argument," Gover said. "I never thought [it] was going anywhere."

The other defendants involved in Lewis' ruling are former Rep. Sean Ramaley (D., Beaver); former Veon aides Brett Cott and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink; and Stephen Keefer, who directed the House Democrats' information technology office.